Tackle for flat knitting machines



F. c. GOOD 2,158,498

TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES May 16, 1939.

13 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1936 F. c. GOOD 6 TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES May 16, 1939.

Filed Nov. 25, 1936 15 Sheets- Sheet 2 a 0 W W I as.

' May 16, 1939. F. c. GOOD TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. C. GOOD May 16, 1939.

TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm %N um May 16, 1939. F. cFGooD TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 16, 1939. F. cz. GOOD TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES I 13 Sheets- Sheet 6 Filed NOV. 25, 1936 Imelda! v ior' ASK May 16, 1939. c, 500: 2,158,498

TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 May 16, 1939. F. c. GOOD TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES l5 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 25, 1936 May 16, l 939'.

TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 'wwww 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 l i g F. ;c.- coon Filed Nov. 25, 1936 i eaery'd/i oad TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES May 116, 1939.

May 16, 1939. F. c. G OOD TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Fil ed Nov. 25,

1956 15 Sheets-Sheet ll May 16, m9. F. c. GOOD 291589498 TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 May 16, 1939. c; GOOD 2,158,498

I TACKLE FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1936 I is Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to the actuation of thread-bar-selector mechanism carried by friction boxes.

One purpose of the invention is to provide axially immovable operating mechanism normally disconnected from the friction box for actuating a movable thread carrier selector carried by the friction box and adapted toengage successive thread carrier bars.

A further purpose is to operate thread carrier selecting mechanism carried by a friction box from an actuator movable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of box movement while keep ing the actuating mechanism from longitudinal movement.

A further purpose is broadly to adapt a thread rod carrier selector carried by a friction box to actuation by a transversely movable member as compared with a member movable arallel to the friction rod and to accommodate to this actu- ,r ation a large range of types of selector carried by the box, whether the selector have the same or a different train of actuating mechanism at the two ends of the stroke of the friction box.

2 A further purpose is to offer a choice of connections by which a swinging bar may be utilized to actuate selector mechanism on the friction box,- permitting origin of the movement. either in a cam carried by the main cam shaft or for example by a pattern chain.

A further purpose is to provide an actuating mechanism shifting toward and from, the'iriction shaft or rod or mechanism carried by the friction box as distinguished from that movable parallel with the friction shaft or rod, applying the actuating mechanism to movement of the same train of mechanism at each end of the friction box stroke or toindividual trains of mechanisms operated at the different ends of the friction box stroke as preferred.

' A further purpose is to actuate a star wheel for engagement with thread carrier bars or their attachments by means which is movable transversely of the axis of the main cam shaft-as- 45 distinguished from means-movable longitudinally 55 cams by means normally disconnectedfrom .the

A further purpose is to connect a selector- 10 operating ratchet wheel and its shaft carried-by a friction box with actuating mechanism moved by the main cam shaft or by a pattern wheel and not movable longitudinally with respect to this shaft.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

The invention relates not only to the mechanism shown but to methods or processes disclosed.

The preferred mechanisms are shown in the 20 accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a suffidient portion of a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine to illustrate the application of the mechanismv of the present invention thereto. 23

Figure 2 isra plan view. of the mechanism shown in full lines in Figure 1 and looking from the rear of the machine in the direction of the arrow 2 in said Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation or end view of the same.

Figure 3a is a fragmentary elevation of a thrust member seen in Figure3.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3. a

Figures 5, 6, and 7 inclusive are cross sectional details of various parts of the mechanism illustrated in 2, 3, and 4.

Figure 8 is a detached perspective view of the carrier bar selecting and driving or coupling 4 elements.

Figures 9 to 19 inclusive are diagrammatic plan views of three of the carrier bars of the machine, illustrating the sequence of operations of the carrier bar selecting and driving elements.

Figures 20 to 25 inclusive are diagrammatic views 'of the carrier bar selecting and driving elements in the various positions assumed in selecting and operating the carrier bars in the manner shown in Figures 9 to 19 inclusive.

Figure 26 is an end elevation showing the old parts in dot and dash and illustrating actuating mechanism with the selector seen in the preceding figures. 5

Figure 27 is a side elevation showing the actuating mechanism alone.

Figure 28 is a top plan view of a part of the actuating mechanism.

Figures 29, 30, 31, 31b, 32 and 33 are end elevations, some on reduced scales, of actuating structures of the general type shown in Figure Figure 31a is a fragmentary longitudinal section corresponding to line 3Ia 3l a in Figure 31.

Figure 34 is a top plan view of one of the many types of selector mechanism to which the'present invention may be applied.

Figure 35 is a fragmentary section upon line 35-45 of the structure shown in Figure 34 showing application of the actuating mechanism of' any of the preceding figures to the selector of v Figure 34.

Figure 36 is a fragmentary cross section of a part of the structure of Figure 34 including matter not shown in that figure.

Figure 37 is an end elevation and partial section showing application of my actuator to still another form of selector mechanism carried by friction boxes.

Figure'38 is-a fragmentary top plan view of the structure of Figure 37.

Figures 39 and 40 are a sectional elevation and top plan, respectively, of another form of the invention.

ainsthe drawings similar numerals-indicate like D In the operation of full-fashioned knitting ma-' chines threads are knitted such as silk which are not of uniform thickness or diameter but which instead have relatively thick and relatively thin places occurring at different stretches of their lengths.

In handling such threads of variant thickness it is quite desirable to avoid the laying of courses of either thick or thin thread successively to any considerable extent with the result that various -mechanisms have been proposed for laying successive courses from different thread sources. normally requiring that at least three thread bars shall be used during this part of the knitting and that the corresponding carrier bars shall be operated sequentially according to a predetermined order. The operation of striping" also requires the engagement of different bars successively, even though there may be as few bars as two in the succession and each bar may be used to lay thread in many successive courses.

Various constructions providing for selection and engagement of the carrier bars ina proper order for three bar operation have been manufactured and used which are carried by the friction box and which are actuated after the friction box completes its stroke, either from some member movable longitudinally of the machine, in correspondence with the travel of the friction box, such as from a slur bar-or which are actuated from a cam shaft. g

The present invention comprehends a plurality of actuators of widely different characters for selectors of several varieties which have been manufactured and used and the actuators are adapted to be applied to any type of selector which is carried byafrictionbox and which progressively and selectively engageacarries and disengages from different thread carrier-bars so as to lay the corresponding threads in courses,

one after the other'according to a predetermined system.

. The first illustration of the preferred actuator i8 throughout the length of the machine.

cept for the actuator and omission of a safety device, as the correspondingly numbered figures of .the present case. Taking then the first twentyfive figures, the structure shown is intended to operate three different threads in such sequence that the courses from these threads shall be laid in turn, one course from each, repeating to produce a so-called ringless effect.

Each thread is controlled by an individual thread carrier bar. The mechanism for selecting the individual bars in turn and engaging them to lay the threads is the same in Figures 1-25 as in my former application.

In order to illustrate the fact that my mechanism is of broader scope than would be represented by actuating my earlier selector mechanism merely and is suited to operation of other mechanism I have illustrated in Figures 34-38 mechanisms which have been made and which have port from the extension l5 for a friction box guide rod l1 extending parallel to the drive rod The slur cock bar I8 is shown in order to point out the position of other parts in the present invention but is not used for selector actuating purposes.

The usual thread carrier bars I to 8 inclusive are carried by the back center bed l2 through brackets I9 having transversely extending heads 20. The friction rod I6 and slur cock bar It are reciprocated by the usual Coulier motion, not

shown.

The various thread carrier bars are reciprocated by a series of friction boxes having slides or arm connecting with the barsso that the various friction boxes will receivelongitudinal reciprocation and the threads may be laid to 'the needles-and interlooped courses of stitches may be made. The bars are limited in movement by end stops, not shown.

For selective driving of any ofthree carrier bars a special friction box 25 is used mounted in the usual manner and provided with the usual friction leathers carried by theusual shoes adapted to be connected to Or loosened from the drive rod by movement of the handle 26 in the usual manner. I v

Secured to each of the opposite ends of the friction box 25, as illustrated, is a split collar. These appear at 21 and 28. These collars are mounted on circular axial extensions 29 of the friction box 25 and are clamped in definite position thereon by tap bolts 30, 30. The collars 21 trated in Figure 4 upon the shaft 35 at the center and between the arms 3| and 32 are two laterally (axially) spaced wheels 31and 38 which resemble star wheels and which function as selectors and driving or coupling elements for the three carrier rods, I, 2, 3, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The Wheels 31 and 38 are respectively carried by and fixedly secured to hub members 39 and 40 respectively. Integral with or connected to the hubs 39 and 40 respectively are ratchet wheels 4| and 42. Index wheels 43 and 44 are also secured to the hubs 39 and 40.

Detent brackets 45 and 45 (see Figure 4) are fixed to or formed integral with the inner ends of the sleeves 33 and 34 respectively, each of which brackets is provided with a radially extending cylindrical portion, seen at 41 and 4B. As seen in Figure 6 each of these cylindrical extensions is provided with a bore 49 in which detent plunger 50 slides. Between the plunger and the outer screw plug 5| closing the outer end of the bore is a spring 52 by which the detent 50 is yieldingly pressed and held within one of the peripheral notches 53 of the index wheels 43 and 44.

The sleeves 33 and 34 and detent cylinders 41 and 48 carried thereby may be adjustedaxially of the friction rod and also angularly for the purpose of registering the selecting or coupling wheels 31 and 38 with respect to the carrier rods 2, and 3. The sleeves then are locked in adjusted posiiton by set screws 55 and 56 which are threaded into the arms 3| and 32 as shown in Figure 2.

The opposite ends of the hollow shaft 35 are provided with nuts 51 and 58 respectively which bear against the outer ends of the sleeves 33 and 34 respectively, whereby wear and axial play between said sleeves and the selector wheel hub elements 39 and 40 may be taken up.

-The shaft 35 (see Figure 4) is perforated radially. and circumferentially grooved as indicated at 59 and 60 to provide for lubrication of the various working elements mounted on said shaft, said lubrication passing through the hollow center of the shaft 35 from any suitable grease or oil supply (not shown) but which may be connected to the threaded ends 6| and/or 62 of the shaft 35, said lubricant passing through the perforations 59 into the grooves 60 and distributing along the outer operating surface of the shaft 35.

Mounted for oscillation on the sleeves 33 and 34 respectively, between the arms 3| and 32 and the detent brackets 45 and 46 are the hubs 63 and 64 of pawl carriers which include arms 65 and 68 formed integral with'the hub 63-and 64 and having extensions projecting axially over the end of said hubs across the detent wheels 43 and 44 and ratchet wheels 4| and 42.

The sleeves 33 and 34 may be perforated to permit lubrication for the pawl carrier hubs 63 and 64 from the hollow shaft 35.

Pivotally mounted on the ends of the overhanging portions .61 and 68 of the pawl carrier arms 65 and 63 are pawls 69 and H1 which cooperate with the ratchet wheels 4| and 42 respectively for moving the carrier rod selector wheels 31- and 38 alternately and step-by-step as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Each of the pawls 69 and 10 is pressed against its ratchet wheel by fiat spring one end of which presses against the pawl and the other of which is clamped in extension 6'1 or 68 of the pawl carriers 63 or 64 by means of clamp plates 12.

Two main distinctions are to be noted as between the slur-actuator for the selector in the former application and the present actuator The actuator here takes its movement from a rotary and not from a longitudinally movable member. The movement of the actuator is in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the friction box and not parallel thereto. The selector shown in this form of Figures 1 to 8 is a transversely swinging bar operated from a rotary cam which may be and here is mounted upon the main cam shaft. It is wholly free from support by the friction box and extends throughout a range suflicient to engage the selector mechanism at both of the limits of friction box travel and whatever limitation of friction box travel may be effected by the narrowing mechanism. So far as the operation of the transversely movable bar is concerned it can be made to operate from a main cam in that one of the two longitudinally shiftable positions of the main cam shaft in which knitting takes place (i. e. as distinguished from the shaft position when narrowing takes place). It can be rendered inoperative when desired by throwing the selector device out of reach of the actuator bar just as in the case of my prior application. This is later described.

The present form of actuator is not dependent upon the continued movement of any of the reciprocating parts but of course does not come into operation for a new course until the last preceding bar carried by the selector has come to rest.

The actuating device carries two presser faces 13', I3 (Figures 1 and 4), for engagement with continuous surface but are separated. It is desirable that they be connected for added strength.

This is here accomplished by merely spacing them at opposite ends of a recess 13 so that either one of the mechanisms may be free from actuation while the other is being actuated. The two presser faces need not be connected. In the drawings, for convenience the two presser faces are connected by a single presser plate or bar 13 with which the surfaces 13" and 73 are effectively connected.

The presser plate. or bar 13 is operated by a lever arm 14 (Figures 2'7 and 28) which may be a single arm but which for greater stiffness is constructed as a composite, shown as made up of side strips 14 and 14 and intermediate braces 14 The lever arm is mounted upon any suitable pivoting bracket 15 by means of pivot rod 15. The position of the bracket will, of course, depend upon the position of frame parts or other parts in the individual machine to which the invention is applied.

The arm 14 islimited in its release movement in any suitable manner as by extensions I4 beyond the pivot (Figures 26 and 27) and by the adjusting limiting screws I4 with which the extensions engage.

The lever arm 14 is pulled to operating position through link 16 by a swinging lever arm 11 forked to carry roller ll engaged by a cam 18 Figure 39) will occur to the designer familiar with this art.

Suitable pivots 15, connect the link 16 with the arms 14 and 11 respectively and the, arm 11 is pivoted in bearings 15 mounted on any suitable bracket 15 The entire actuator can be rendered inoperative merely by sliding the lever arm 11 along pivot 15 so that wheel 11' will ride upon the circular part of cam wheel 18 and will not be engaged by cam 18 with shifting of the main cam shaft. The cam wheel 18' may be made wide enough to accommodate this shift for purposes of preventing actuation of the selector where the selector cannot itself be wholly disconnected. This then permits the particular bar with which the selector was last connected to be operated all the time by the friction box. 7

The lever 14 is held normally and resiliently in position by any suitable spring I03 at one end secured in the link 16 and at the other end fastened at any suitable point which may be a fixed point connected with the bracket 15.

It will be noted that the cam. 18 can be of any type suited to actuate the lever arm 14 and operate the presser feet according to any predetermined plan.

Alternate step-by-step rotation of the selector and driving wheels is attained by action of the presser faces 13 and 13 against rollers 8| and 82 mounted on the lower ends of levers 83 and 84.- The levers are pivotally mounted on the pivot 85 supported by lugs 86 and 86 formed on the collars 21 and 28 respectively.

The opposite ends of the levers 83 and 84 are a connected by links-81 and 81' to levers 88 and 88' formed on or carried by the hubs of the pawl carriers 63 and 64 respectively, so that when reciprocation of the friction box to the left in Figure 4, for example, brings the lever 83 in line with presser face 13, the roller 8| will be engaged by the presser face and will be pushed forward (Figures 4 and 26) but the roller 82 will pass within the recess 13 and will not be actuated.

When movement of the friction box has brought it to the end of its stroke at the right in Figures 4 and 26, forward movement of the presser bar will cause its presser face 13 at this end of the bar to engage roller-82 and push lever 84 forwardly, whereas roller 8| will be in line with that part of the presser bar which is recessed at 13 and roller 8| will therefore not be engaged and will thus not be actuated.

On the other hand it will be noted that presser faces 13' and 13 form the engaging devices, impellers or drivers on the part of the actuator which connect with and transmit motion to levers or other devices carried by the friction box to effect the selector function. The levers or other devices 83 and 84 in the present instance are the first of the train of selector mechanism which moves with the friction box and for the present purpose are viewed as the friction box-carried operating members or levers. It will be noted that the actuator impellers or drivers and the selector operating members constitute the transfer mechanism by which movement of theactuator which is not lengthwiseof the machine is transmitted into movement of the selector which travels lengthwise of the machine.

The impellers or drivers having presser faces presser faces 13' and 13 is sufflcient so that what might be termed the lagging roller 8| or 82 according to the last direction of movement of I the friction box will reliably fit into the space between and will not be operated by the actuator bar.

Each engagement of one of the presser faces with roller 8| or 82 upon lever 83 or 84-according to the end of the stroke at which the friction box has come to rest-rotates the corresponding selector wheel sixty degrees about the axis of the shaft 35 and through a train of connections now to' be described.

The links 81 and 81' are joined to the levers 83 and 84 respectively by longitudinally separable yokes 88 and pins 88 so that the links and the levers would be separated but for springs 89 connected between the pins 89 upon the hubs 63 and to which the links are connected, and the pins 89 upon the levers 83 and 84.

The springs serve two functions. The one is to permit lost motion in the tensional movement of the levers so that the star wheels'31 and 38 will not be forced against the dogs when they are not free to turn across the faces of the dogs. Instead the lever 83 or 84 moves, stretches the associated spring and opens the lost motion joint between the parts 88 and 88 The other purpose is to draw the levers and links back to their initial position after the lever 83 or 84 has been moved to actuate the corresponding star wheel.

As shown in Figures 5, 6, 8 and to inclusive, the selector wheels 31 and 38 are of the general hexagonal contour, and, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the axis of rotation of these wheels is above and, substantially in the plane of the center of carrier bar No. 2.

Each of the carrier bars I, 2 and 3 is provided with a driving dog, Ia, 2a and 3a respectively, said dogs being of a length substantially equal to the distance between the inner opposed faces of the selector driving wheels 31 and 38 with just sumcient clearance between the ends of the dogs and the inner opposed surfaces of the wheels to allow for the rotation of one of the wheels, the leading wheel relative to the dog when the trailing wheel in the direction of friction box movement is pressing the dog in the direction of the last movement. However, at such time as any one of the dogs is positioned between the opposed surfaces of said wheels to connect the carrier bar to the friction box 25 for driving movement of the carrier bar, this clearance is not 'sufficiently great to allow any appreciable amount of relative longitudinal movement of the bar with respect to the wheels between which the dog is gripped, thus providing for accuate controlling and positioning of the carrier bars with respect to the needles and sinkers of the machine at the ends of the respective strokes of the carrier bars.

Each of the wheels 31 and 38 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed radial dog-clearing notches or openings 31a, 38a, formed in opposed parallel perimeter surfaces 31b, 38b of said wheel, and diametrically opposed radial dog-clearing notches or openings 31c, 38c disposed at right angles to the dog-clearing notches 31a, 38a and located at corners formed by the intersection of two adjacent perimeter surfaces 31b, 38b of the hexagonal wheel, which provides a plurality of solid dog-engaging portions or lugs 31d, 38d

alternating with the surfaces and corner dogclearing notches or openings 31a and 38a.

Normally one of the surfaces 311) and 38b of the wheels 31 and 38 lies in a plane parallel to and spaced above the plane of the top surfaces of. the carrier bars I to 8 inclusive, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and one of the dog-engaging lugs 3142 or 38d of one of the'wheels 31, 38 is at all times in overlapping relation to one of the lugs of the other wheel and one of the dog-clearing spaces adjacent thereto, as will be clear in the following description of the operation of said wheels.

It will be understood that each 'of the carrier bars I, 2, 3, etc. is provided with a number of thread guides, one for each knitting head in the machine, and when the driving dogs of the carrier bars are positioned at the left, as seen-in Figure 9, the thread guides carried by such bars are disposed at the left hand selvage of each stocking or other piece of fabric being knit, as determined by the left hand end stops of the machine; and that when the driving dogs are at the right hand end (as seen in Figures 10 and 11) the thread carriers on those particular bars are disposed at the right lmnd selvage of each stocking or fabric piece being knit, as determined by the right hand end stops of the machine.

Figure 9 illustrates the dogs Ia and 3a of the bars I and 3 respectively at the left hand side' and the dog 20. of the bar 2 at the right hand side. Figure 20 illustrates the relation of the 'wheels 31 and 38 as viewed from the left in Figure 9. One of the dog-engaging lugs 31d of the 0 wheel 31 is in engagement with the-left hand end of the dog I a of the bar I, and extends across the carrier rod 2, one of the comer dog-clearing openings 310 being aligned with the dog 3a of the bar 3. One of the dog-engaging lugs 38d of the wheel 38 is disposed at the opposite side of the dog' la of the bar I and another of the :dog-engaging lugs 38d -of the wheel-38 is disposed at the corresponding side ofthe dog 30 of the bar 3 with a median dog-clearing opening 3311 between said lugs disposed in alignment with the bar 2. Taking the set-up of Figure-9 as a starting point in the cycle of operations of the wheels 31,

33 and bars I, 2 and 3, the first movement of the friction box 25 would be to the right, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 9. The dog Ia of the bar I being held between the wheels 31 and 38 would be correspondingly moved to the right from the position shown in Figure 9 to the position shown 00 in Figure 10, wherein the portion of the lug 31d of the wheel 31 which overlaps the dog-clearing opening 38a of the wheel38 comes in contact with the inner end of the dog In of the bar 2, insuring that said bar is in contact with the 5 right hand end stop of the machine and properly aligned with and between the wheels 31 and 38. As above noted in Figure 9, one of the median dog-clearing openings 38a of the wheel 38' is aligned with the carrier bar 2 so that in the 70 movement of the wheels 31 and 33 from the position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 10, thewheel 38 is enabled to pass the dog 2a on the carrier bar.2 and thereby permit the dog to be engaged by the lug 31d of the wheel 31 as noted.

75 with the wheels in the position shown in Figures 10 and 20 and the bars I andY'against the right hand end stop of the machine, transverse movement of the presser face 13 effects a one-step rotation of the wheel 38 from the position shown in Figure 20 to that shown in Figure 21, while the 5 wheel 31 retains its position shown in Figures 9 and 20, whereby the lug 38d moves out of alignment with the dog Ia into alignment with the dog 2:: and extends over the bar 3, as illustrated in Figure 11, one of the corner dog-clearing openings 38c moving into alignment with the right hand end of the dog Ia.

The friction box drive rod I6 and the friction box 25 then move simultaneously to the left, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 11, the dog 2a of the bar 2, being held between the solid lugs 31d and 38d of the wheels 31 and 38, respectively.

The wheels move with the friction box 25 in the direction of the arrow II, from the. position shown in Figure 11 to the position shown in Fig- .ure 12. During this shift to the left the corner dog-clearing opening 310 of the wheel .31 clears the dog 3a of the bar 3- and the solid portion or lug 38d of the wheel 38, which is overhanging the .bar 3, engages the inner or right handend of 25 the'dog 3a of the bar 3, moving the said barand ithe bar 2 into contact with the end stops at the,

left hand end of the machine and aligning the dogs 2a and 3a with each other and with andbetween the wheels 31 and 38 for a subsequent rotary shifting of the wheel 31 by the transverse movement of presser face 13 after the carriers 2 and 3 have engaged with the left end stops of the machine.

The wheel 31 during the last-mentioned rotary shifting thereof moves from the position shown in Figures 12 and 21 to the position shown in Figures 13 and 22, while the wheel 38 retains its position of Figure 21. This shifting of the wheel 31 aligns one of the median dog-clearing openings 31a with the left hand end of the dog 2a of the carrier bar 2 and moves one of the adjacent. lugs 31d into alignment with the left hand end of the dog 3a and the other of the adjacent lugs 31d into alignment "with or overhanging relation to the sure 13.

The next movement of the friction box drive rod to the right moves the carrier bar 3 to the right from the position sliown in Figure 13 to the position shown in Figure 14, afterwhich the wheel 38 is shifted from the position shown in Figure 21 to that shown'in Figure 23, bringing a solid lug 3811 into alignment with/the dog Ia and overhanging the bar 2 with one of the dog,-

clearing openings 380 in alignment with the dog 3a of the bar 3.

The wheels 31 and 38 when next moved by the friction box 25 to the left, as illustrated in Figure 15,-carry the dog Ia and the bar I from the position shown in Figure 15 to that shown in Figure 16, wherein a lug 38d of the wheel 38 contacts the inner end of the dog 2a and moves 45 carrier rod I, as shown in Figthe bars I and 2 into contact with the end stops 1 a repetition of the cycle.

wheels 31 and 88 then move to the right, as indicated in Figure 17, from the position shown in Figure 17 to that shown in Figure 18. After arriving at this position, the wheel 88 is again lugs 88d to move into alignment with-the right hand end of the dog In and another lug 88d to move into alignment with the bar I and positioning one of the openings 88a in alignment with the right hand end of the dog 2a.

The friction box 28 and wheels 81 and 88 next move to the left as indicated in Figure 19, carrying the dog In and the bar 3 from the position shown in Figure 19 to that shown in Figure 9 for From the above, it will be clear that the thread carrier bars I, 2 and 8 are moved successively in a predetermined order so that the threads controlled thereby are laid to the needles of the knitting machine once in the formation of each three courses of stitches in the single or several fabrics being made on the machine.

From the above description, it will be clear .also that the carrier bars are under definite control of the wheels 81 and 38 at the time the selection is made and during the full stroke of each. bar after it is selected for laying thread to the needles.

As previously noted,the friction boxes of flat knitting machines, particularly those employed in the making of full-fashioned hosiery, are held in definite relation to the bars I to 8 inclusive against rotary motion about the axis of the friction box drive rod I8 by ayoked lug on each of the friction boxes embracing -a guide rod I'I which, as noted, extends parallel .to the drive rod I8. In the present instance, vand in order to provide operating space for the specialwfriction box 2 5, one section of the guide rod I'I between a pair of the supporting brackets ,I-5= is.' removed and a special guide rod IIaprovided in offset relation to the rod- I1, The special section Ila is supported from and by the -ends of the rods I I or by the w abrackets I 5 through supplementary brackets Ilb.

.As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the friction box 25 is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending arms 8| and 82 respectively. These arms or a single arm may be carried directly by the body of the friction box 25, or, as in the present in-v stance, the arms 8I and 82 are provided with shoulders 98 which engage the under side of the guide bar Ila and thus prevent the weight of the mechanism disposed over the carrier bars I to 8 from effecting a rotary movement of the friction box 28 about the axis of :the drive rod 3 I8, thus maintaining a of the flatperimeter surfaces 81d, 88d of wheels 81 and 88 respectively in the abov e noted parallel relationship .to the plane of the'uipper surfaces of the I, to].

In order to prevent upward movement of, the

"wheels from the carrier bars in, the present instance, the arm 82 slidably supports a latch 84 which projects outwardly over the upper surface of the ,guide bar I la, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and);

The thread carrier I, 2 and 8 are thus moved successively in a predetermined order so that the corresponding threads are laid, one course of thread from each bar being laid in turn, repeating the operation over and over again in each of place.

the positions at which knitting takes bar which previously has rested at that end of the stroke, pressing this carrier bar also in the direction of last wheel movement and holding the two bars in position while the other star wheel which has been the leading wheel during the last movement rotates to anew position without need of frictional engagement with the lugs of these two bars. With the reversal of movement of the friction box the previously leading star wheel becomes the driving star wheel, driving the bar which has previously been left at that end of the stroke and leaving the bar which has just been delivered. This reverse movement of the star wheels causes-the star wheel which was the driving wheel to become the leading star wheel. It is turned to a new position at the end of its reverse stroke while the two bars whose lugs are located at this end of the stroke are held in position by the then-driving star wheel.

Ateach end of the stroke the lever 83 or 84, -whichever it is, which operates the latch to turn the leading star wheel for that stroke, comes into position to be engaged by one or other of the presser faces 13', I3 while the other of the levers rests within the recess between these presser .faces'; with the result and effect that the leading wheel is shifted in position while the then driving star wheel holds the lugs tightly pressed in the direction of last movement, taking up any lost motion which there may be in the narrowing heads or other mechanism.

If at anytime it is desired to use the carrier bars I, 2 and 3 in the ordinary manner, thatis, without selective operation thereof, the friction box 25 and all ofthe selecting mechanism carried thereby may be rotated upwardly about the axis of the rod I8 by retracting the latch 94, after which, release of the latch and subsequent prol. jection thereof would cause the upper surface of the latch to engage the under surface of the guide bar I'Ia, thus retaining the wheels 31 and 38 in an elevated inoperative position. By this movement of the friction box 25, the cam followers 8| and 82 are likewise swung out of alignment with the cam TI to an inoperative position.

Retraction and projection of the latch 84 is eifected in the following manner:

The latch is slidably mounted'in a guideway 85 formed in the arnr92 and is provided with a laterally extending pin 88 which projects through an elongatedslot 9'l formed in the side of the guideway 95. The outer projecting end of the pin 98 is engaged by one end of a lever 98, the

opposite end of said lever being in the form of a handle I08 projecting outwardly over the top of the friction box 25. The lever 98 is pivotally mounted at 98 between a pair of lugs IIII, Ill formed on the split collar 28, and a spring I82 having one end connected to the lever 98 and its opposite end connected .to the split collar 28 tends to maintain the latch 94 in its projected state at all times.

In Figure 29 is shown a construction somewhat similar to'that of Figures 26, 2'7 and 28 but with the difference that an operating wheel TI is operated directly from a cam depression 18 occupying part of the length of a cam wheel 18*, the

nism is thrown remainder of whose length is of uniform diameter throughout, so that the wheel 11 may ride upon tion of the main shaft but will be acted upon by the cam depression 10 in knitting positions of the main shaft. The shaft indicated at 10 is the main cam shaft of the machinebut may be another shaft shiftable with it,

In this illustration of Figure 29 the extension I04 is much greater than that of 14 in Figure 26 in order that this extension may not act as a stop only but may be used-in a knocke'r function for operation of the lever14. The extension I04 is provided with a suitable wear plate I05 to be engaged by the end I06 of a lever I01 pivoted at I08 in a hanger I09-supported from any suitable fixed part of the machine. The lever I01 is bifursated at I I0, as lever 11 in 1 igure 2t}, in order that the wheel 11 maybe pivoted in it at III,

corresponding in this particular also with lever The wheel 11 is held in engagement with the surface of the cam wheel 10 by a spring II2 so as to follow the contour of this wheel includinggagementwith the end I00 by means of a spring In Figure a more direct actuation is seen for a similar construction. The extension I04 enases the end I06 of a lever I01 pivoted at I00 in a swinging arm I I4 pivoted at IIS in a support I00 mounted upon any suitable fixed part.

The lever I01 is forked at 0' to carry a wheel 11 which is engaged by a cam 10, for example 'upon the surface of a cam wheel 10'. The wheel and cam including the shaft 10 may be a duplicate of the corresponding wheelwand shaft in Figure 26; and if the shaft be the main cam shaft the cam projection 18 will extend for a part only of the axial length of the surface of the wheel 10' so that the wheel 11 will not be actuated durin narrowing operations.v The heel of the lever is held in engagement with the end I00 by means of a spring II2. Because of the objection to hav- 1 ing lever I01 floatunduly, the end of the lever is held in engagement with flange I It by a spring II1 attached to the lever at one end, and whose point of attachment at the other end is not shown. This point of attachment may be any suitable fixed part.

In Figures 31, 31aand 3112 are shown alternative constructions in which a pattern chain may.

be used instead of the cam wheel 10' with its cams, as for example 10 or 10 The use of a pattern chain offers not only convenience in initially arranging what may been odd timing or order of actuation but permits change of the timing subsequently. It is suitable for use in the same machine, for example,

altematively on three-thread bar actuation in sequence or for ring formation. This would permit either ringless or knitting in which failure to protect against rings may result in rings appearing upon the same machine as well as of course the ordinary knitting when the selector mechae out of position to engage the thread bars. With the "ring" knitting, a number of successive courses of thread from the same thread source can be supplied, while' with the three thread bar selection a single course from each source, successively, can be supplied.

In Figure 31 the cams upon the pattern chain are applied to the operation of a lever 14" having an extension I04 -provided with wear strip I 05- in position to be engaged by the cams H0, H0, H8, H8 at whatever spacing may be desired. The lever is returned by a spring Ill,

The pattern chain I I0 passes about a driving sprocketwheel I20 which may be driven by the main cam shaft 18, and over an idler sprocket wheel I2I, the idler being in position to support the cam while it is giving impulse to the heel I04 of any suitable lever 14". The illustration is suitable for use when the shaft shown is the main cam shaft. The driving wheel I20 is free to the main cam shaft will throw a clutch I22 pinned upon it at I23 into,engagement with the cooperating clutch member I24 rigid with the driving wheel I20. 'I'he cooperating clutch member and wheel I20 are held .in position along the length of the shaft by a strap I25. The strap is arranged to be positioned by a fixed member I26 by either of two sets of fastenings I21, I28. When positioned by fastenings I21 the clutch member will engage whenever the main cam shaft is in knitting position, but will be disengaged when the main cam shaft and the clutch member I22 carried by it shift longitudinally to narrowing position. When the strap I25 is positioned by fastenings I20 the entire pattern chain is rendered inoperative, as the clutch members cannot engage in any longitudinal position the main shaft.

In Figure'31b the structure is or may be substantially the same as in Figure 26 except that the driving wheel I20 acts as a support for the cams upon the pattern chain while they are engaging with heel 11' upon swinging lever 11, by

which the lever 14 is actuated through link 10.

The wheel I2I thus becomes an idler only to stretch the...pattern chain and does not act assa support for cams while they are engaging any part of the operating lever.

The illustrations of the forms of Figures 31, 31a and 31!: are intended to indicate the flexibility of the pattern chain substitution form for a wheel is applied to a swinging arm of the general type seen in Figure 26, there being much in common with the structure of Figure 26 but with substitu-- tion of the chain for the cam wheel of Figure 26.

'In this Figure 32 the chain cam during its operation is sustained by the wheel I2I which is an idler whereas in Figure 31b the cam during operation is sustained by wheel I20 which with respect to the chainis a driving wheel.

In Figure 33 is illustrated a different form of I main cam shaft actuation which operates in a 

